Electronic bracer wraps a lot of features around your arm

[Stephanie] just finished up her wearable project which puts a lot of information where a wristwatch would normally be found. She calls it the Integrated Sensors Electronic Bracer. We had to look up what a bracer is; the name originates with archers and it was a leather wrap used to protect the wrist. This does that, but we don’t think you’ll want the bowstring frequently hitting the electronic components hidden within.

There is a nice finished leather cover which wraps around the unit, leaving just a few holes for key components. Above you can see the parts undressed, with an Arduino compatible board in the middle. It provides a user interface with the OLED display and three input buttons. The array of sensors found on the device include a GPS module to display position data, humidity sensor, magnetometer, luminance sensor, and galvanic skin response.

The opposite side of the bracer has an opening secured by a couple of elastic cords. [Stephanie] mentions that this works, but she’s not happy with the look of it and hopes to make some leather-based improvements.

Odd collection?
GPS, humidity, flashlight, compass the only things it is missing is waterproofing, satellite telephone, and solar recharging to be the “must have” item for every hiker. Oh yeah, throw in a digital camera too, to record the journey.

I’ve wanted to do something like this for a long time. But I’m more leatherworker than electrical engineer. I’d be interested in getting in touch with her to help her out with the leather end of things.

She should try that ‘crowdfund’ thing, I sure would want one of those, even more if it had a MP3 player and/or a digicam. ^^
Oh yeah, a bluetooth to pair it with my computer and solar recharging too. 8)
Anyway, great work!

Just because something has no apparent utility think of all the things learnt to make this “useless” project. If nothing else everything we do will teach us something. For me I would have probably thrown a barometric pressure sensor to do some basic weather forecasting.

To those that say “just use a cellphone” You’ll be glad you didn’t drain the battery when you need to make an emergency call hiking.

“Science isn’t about why, it’s about why not. You ask: why is so much of our science dangerous? I say: why not marry safe science if you love it so much. In fact, why not invent a special safety door that won’t hit you in the butt on the way out, because you are fired!”